Free Dining Watch 2009 - Dates Released!! Update post 1

Hi. We are non-DVC members but are booked at the Beach Club Villas September 13th to the 19th. Last week I got a PIN code for 40% off, but I was unable to use it at the Villas. Does anyone know if we might be able to get free dining? I have read the new sticky and it says free dining can't be applied to DVC reservations.

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Of course, we won't really know for sure until there is an official announcement, but I would assume that they will allow you to apply it since you are not staying on DVC points, but instead paying rack rate for a DVC unit.

Of course, we won't really know for sure until there is an official announcement, but I would assume that they will allow you to apply it since you are not staying on DVC points, but instead paying rack rate for a DVC unit.

Hi. We are non-DVC members but are booked at the Beach Club Villas September 13th to the 19th. Last week I got a PIN code for 40% off, but I was unable to use it at the Villas. Does anyone know if we might be able to get free dining? I have read the new sticky and it says free dining can't be applied to DVC reservations.

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It cannot be applied to DVC points reservations. I believe it's been available with full price package reservations at DVC resorts made through CRO. You'd have to check for availability once the offer is made.

This was not my experience. Last year I had a package already reserved, and was told that if FD came out, it would have to be re-booked, because there are only a certain # of rooms allocated to this special. But I think I've read of others who did "add on" so it's either a misunderstanding or a difference in how CM's and TAs handle it.

Also, I believe FD has needed a minimum of 3 nights to qualify in the past?

I know there is no guarantee that free dining will be offered next year. But I am wondering what the traditional dates have been for this. I am trying to decide on taking our trip end of June or early August and if I can get the room cheaper AND get free dining, that will be the clincher.

I received an email with a 40% pin. So what I'm seeing here is that I should book a room and then if free dining becomes available (my time frame is sometime in September possibly) I can then choose to upgrade to a package and get the free dining....or keep the 40%. Can someone verify that I am on the right track?

Would the 40% apply to the whole package if I chose to book that rather than a room only?

This is the first time I've received a pin#, and although I didn't intend on visiting WDW this year, I really hate to pass up this offer.....

Well one thing to consider when choosing between June and September is the weather. Personally, free dining wouldn't be enough to entice me to come to WDW during hurricaine season. We live here now and I'm planning to leave next summer for a couple weeks the tail end of July and early August, because it's hot and rainy... My feeling is this is our summer "vacation" and it's raining every day... So we're heading north. LOL If DS wasn't in school I'd go August and September... October still has more rain than we're having this time of year, but nothing like August and September. May and June were nice... Still, it's one heck of a trade-off for 9 months of great weather! You couldn't pay me to move north permanently again!

At any rate, don't be swayed by the lure of free dining... Really consider what's important to you. A trip to Disney, no matter the "deal", is still expensive. I know I want to get the most out of it and being stuck in a hotel room during thunderstorms (remember it's not just rain here) isn't my idea of a vacation... Then again everyone is different!

I guess I've just been very fortunate in my travels to Florida. Believe me, I was born, raised, and still live in upper Illinois and I know the hassles of cold winters! I think I would prefer the hot and humid weather in Florida (my sister lives close to Orlando, and she leaves the state during the summer because her son has asthma) I know Sept/Oct/Nov is the hurricane season...but I've been to WDW in all three of those months, and while it was touch and go a few times, it over all has been pretty good. Hey, I went in April during my birthday week last year and it poured rain for a solid 24 hours! So I would say it's pretty much a crap shoot most of the time. You never know what you will get until you are there...I also went in Sept of last year, and the weather was beautiful! So I figure you just go when you can and hope for the best!

I am subscribing to this threwad.
For the last 2yrs we have gone in late Aug and got Free Dining. We have never been offered the bounceback rate. Not a mention of it. Is this only given in Sept?oct or for certain guests?

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We have gone late August for the last three years. We were offered bounceback at POP last year. We are booked for Aug 23 - 30 for this year. I don't know how they decide who gets the offer.

I know there is no guarantee that free dining will be offered next year. But I am wondering what the traditional dates have been for this. I am trying to decide on taking our trip end of June or early August and if I can get the room cheaper AND get free dining, that will be the clincher.

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In 2007 FD started on Aug 26. In 2008 it was Aug 24. I was offered bounceback last year and the offer I got for 2009 started on Aug 23. I would love it if they would offer earlier dates...in 2006 I believe it started on Aug 13. I would prefer to go earlier in August too...if they do I will be switching my dates.

The ONLY way I Knew about the Bounce back offer was that I
hang out here on Dis. I had to go to the Customer Service Desk
and ask about it and was given a Flier--they were out of fliers
and had to run me off a copy. But I got the BB Offer.

I received an email with a 40% pin. So what I'm seeing here is that I should book a room and then if free dining becomes available (my time frame is sometime in September possibly) I can then choose to upgrade to a package and get the free dining....or keep the 40%. Can someone verify that I am on the right track?

Would the 40% apply to the whole package if I chose to book that rather than a room only?

This is the first time I've received a pin#, and although I didn't intend on visiting WDW this year, I really hate to pass up this offer.....

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You can't have both the 40% and free dining ...you have to choose.The 40% off is only off the room portion of the pkg.You need to sit down and crunch some numbers to see which would be more worthwhile for you.